VOYAGE OF THE 'ECLIPSE.' 95 



small bull (5 ft. 3 in. bone). Although a small animal its rump 

 was quite grey. I found the spaces between the laminae of 

 baleen to measure three-eighths of an inch ; the length of the 

 "hair" attached to their inner margins 13 in., the thickness of 

 the blubber on the body 8 in., at the neck decreasing to in. 

 towards the tail. 



June 8th. Narwhals numerous with their young. 



June llth. A flock of Brent Geese [Bernicla brenta), 

 consisting of at least forty birds, seen flying westward, very low, 

 across the ice. Large flocks of these birds are to be seen here 

 about this time, flying in a similar direction every season. 

 Therefore, if not an open Polar sea, yet sufficient open water 

 must break out annually beyond the " barrier " to warrant the 

 migration, not only of these birds, but also (as has already been 

 said) of Balccna mysticetus towards it. The same day, while 

 reaching eastwards from the edge of the close-ice, we passed 

 over a number of strips of water, alternately blue and green. 



June 12th. While sailing southwards along the edge of the 

 close-ice, in company with the "Erik," a whale was seen coming 

 towards us from the S.E. Both vessels hauled to and lowered 

 their boats. The whale continued its course to the N.W., 

 towards the close-ice, six boats following in hot pursuit. Owing 

 to the competition between the two ships it soon became evident 

 that all caution, all rules being laid aside, the chase would either 

 prove a failure, or rashness would win the day. Beaching the 

 edge of the close-ice, the "fish," which hitherto had been 

 swimming at a rate of five miles per hour, now relaxed its speed 

 and began playing about. The first boat up would get a chance ! 

 Towards it all the boats directed their course, every oarsman 

 pulling his very utmost ; a boat from each ship led the way ; 

 neither had the advantage ; they were rapidly approaching within 

 shot; the harpooners stood to their guns, when the two boats 

 steering for the same object rapidly closed with one another and 

 unavoidably came into collision. The whale meanwhile had 

 dived, soon afterwards it reappeared, again the boats were almost 

 within shot, again it dived to reappear once more before finally 

 dipping under a floe. This time one of our boats pulled right on 

 to its back, and the harpooner, depressing the gun, would un- 

 doubtedly have got fast, had not the gun unfortunately snapped. 

 One of the "Erik's" boats had by this time fired, but not being 



